So I had used my meager earnings to buy a more expensive blend… Stress Away.

From the family room, the smell was overwhelming. My husband and I leaped from our seats and bolted to our room where we discovered our two toddler sons slipping and sliding all over the bathroom completely greased in the prized bottle of oil. They were thrilled with themselves.

This is why we call them the vandals.

As we bathed them and mopped and scrubbed the floors my husband sneezed and gagged. “What is this stuff?”

“It’s essential oil.”

“What kind?” He choked.

“Stress Away.”

He stopped scrubbing and glared at me, “It’s not working.”

Indeed.

Just this morning I found my new diffuser full of my coffee, saltine crackers and a hot wheel. I bought the diffuser for my nightstand in hopes of filling my room with the majestic smell of a freshly rained upon lavender field.

Hard as I try – my life is less than stress-free.

Truly, it is a vicious cycle. The purchases I make in order to manifest calm are the very tools that are my undoing. As I cursed and scrubbed the nasty concoction out of my new diffuser the younger vandal inquired, “Whats you doin mommy?”

“Cleaning up a very big mess! Why would do this to mommy’s stuff?”

I kid you not he said, “Cause we yike to pway wif your pwetty fings… and we should always share with herms other.”

I disagree with the law of sharing.

It’s stupid.

I don’t share my car or clothes with anyone? Yet we emphasize this to our children and it literally only applies to children.

And perhaps this is why the vandals feel they are welcome to abuse my relaxation possessions.

Furthermore, maybe their scheme to sabotage peace is the reason I am fat.

1 Corinthians 10:23 Everything is permissible, but not everything is beneficial.

John 10:10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

Jesus came to stop the non-sense that left us reeling in a miserable and hopeless existence. Every scripture, line, verse, and Law prior to His obedient and bloody sacrifice on the Cross were telltale signs of a people desperate to be saved.

[clickToTweet tweet=”Jesus came to stop the non-sense that left us reeling in a miserable and hopeless existence. #stressless” quote=”Jesus came to stop the non-sense that left us reeling in a miserable and hopeless existence. #stressless”]

And the very definition of His destiny, Savior, is one who saves.

I am convicted of this. He saved me. Maybe you are tired of the rant… but I can’t help it. I am giddy.

Why did I wander aimlessly in a state of “saved, but not quite?”

I’ll say it again simply because it is so important.

You can’t be kind of saved.

If you are drowning in the sea and I throw you a life jacket, you still are in danger of wind, waves, sharks, undertows and you are forced to tread water.

If I pull you to dry land… you are saved.

You will not be killed or destroyed by the sea.

You have life and it is abundant on the shore.

The stresses of drowning in the depths of the ocean are gone.

Ah, yes, I know what you are thinking… “but, what if I fall back in?”

You may fall back in, but you believe in a Savior who walks on water. You who profess “HE IS LORD!” are no longer subject to the performance based salvation, YOU ARE SAVED. He sees you as whole.

And nope, it’s not fair. But He is God, and He can make up the craziest of playbooks… so He did.

No longer interested in a relationship with His children where they sought to appease Him, He tossed out the rules and welcomed you to rest.

Rest.

The opposite of stressed.

The ease of serving Him and doing well isn’t to earn His adoration; it is to simply honor His sacrifice.

Today is my dad’s birthday. He is an oil company executive, a safari hunter, fly-fisherman, world traveler, and Grandpa extraordinaire. He has money in the bank and a house on the lake. He has motorcycles, grandbabies, a lovely wine collection, and a freezer full of exotic meats.

He needs nothing from me.

I can’t find a gift that would sway him in his love for me.

I have provided him delightful pixie granddaughters and strapping vandal grandsons, and long after he took the highchair and playpens to storage… I continued to bring him more grandchildren who do not have his blood… but have captured his whole heart.

We are welcome at the Father’s table. We can feast on that which He shows us is beneficial. Dying to self and focusing on what is good and pleasing is not a heavy or anxiety rich feat when my whole focus is not on my sin, nor my good deeds… but on He who saved me.

Taste and see… Walk in the freedom He bought for you.

Fall into the arms of the Savior – His yoke is easy and His burden is light. The serenity can’t be bottled, bought, or sold… and the toddlers can’t vandalize it.

Peace, rest, abundance… freedom.

May your floors be sticky and your calling ordained. Love, Jami

1 Corinthians 10:23 Everything is permissible, but not everything is beneficial.

Wow…yes how full is my house and empty my wallet with “helps” to bring me peace… I too have my diffuser running constantly!!! I have bulletin boards full of inspirational quotes and verses….I have even fashioned jewelry to wear that will remind me that somehow all will be well and redemption will be… but yes you know-all along I do hear the whisper…”all you need is me”…. when will I learn….
Your words yet again speak to heart and soul…❣️
Have a super fun day with your dad!!!! Cake is definitely permissible and beneficial today

I love this post…..stress away !
Why do we miss the obvious so often? abundant life does not necessarily mean easy! I admire your heart, your kindness, and how you are willing to expose yourself in order to point people to Jesus! I believe transparency is key to sharing who He is to people. Blessings my friend!

God’s mercy is with us in the storm even when we cause the storm! That is the thing we forget. As parents we are even more sympathetic when our own children’s mistakes cause their downfall and we see them suffering for it. Crying out! We need to realize how big God’s forgiveness is!

Example: Yes, I would like to receive emails from Jami Amerine's Sacred Ground Sticky Floors Home as Sanctuary: Joyful Encouragement. (You can unsubscribe anytime)

Constant Contact Use.

By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: Author Jami Amerine, 98 Park Circle, Montgomery, TX, 77356, http://sacredgroundstickyfloors.com. You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Constant Contact